NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 5
Chapter 5: An Unexpected Opportunity (2)
The problem is that no matter how powerful divine magic may be, it doesn’t address the root cause of my frail body and terrible stamina.
Without sufficient rest and proper physical training, relying on these shortcuts will eventually lead to burnout.
At best, I can hold on for about a month by combining these magical shortcuts with elixirs.
During that time, I need to execute my plans swiftly and then take a well-deserved break.
“It’s fine. Everything’s going according to plan. As long as I keep moving forward, everything will work out.”
Muttering to myself out of habit, I suddenly recalled my chatter from last night at the Green Stag Palace.
Initially, I had spilled so much information to those dead men walking to extract intel from them.
But at some point, it became more about releasing my own pent-up secrets.
Why, you ask?
Because dead men tell no tales.
When you hold onto all your secrets for too long, you start to develop symptoms similar to depression.
So sometimes, a little “The Emperor’s New Ears Are Donkey Ears” moment is necessary.
As for why I used the highest-grade Tempest spell to kill weaklings like them—it was to leave a trace that an “Archmage” had done it.
For context, there’s a traitor in the empire.
What’s a traitor, you ask?
On a small scale, they’ve betrayed the Faywood Empire. On a larger scale, they’ve betrayed all of humanity.
In about ten years, the otherworldly armies will open a gate and begin a full-scale invasion.
But they’ve already sent spies to our world years in advance, recruiting powerful figures to work for them.
Their operations are so subtle and secretive that even after nine regressions, I couldn’t uncover all the traitors.
The only solid leads I have are that the second prince, Jess, is a traitor, and at least two—maybe even three—of the current Archmages are also traitors.
Based on my experience, though, the traitors don’t work together or share a unified goal. They act independently.
So, it’s in my best interest to create discord between Jess and the Archmages, making them wary of each other.
This has been one of my primary early-game strategies in my last three regressions, and it’s worked well enough each time.
That’s why I executed it as quickly as possible this time, right on day one of the regression.
Of course, the sooner I kill off the traitors, the better. But unlike Albert, those traitors can’t be taken out so easily in the early stages.
Jess, in particular, is always guarded by that damn Knight Master, Firen—a true monster among the traitors to humanity.
“Your Highness, did you cough? I’ve brought a washcloth and your breakfast.”
Rania, the head maid, entered the room carrying a large tray.
I wiped my face and hands with the washcloth and quickly downed the water from the cup on the tray.
Breakfast consisted of what seemed to be a soft-boiled egg dish, half a grilled fish with crispy skin, an herb salad drizzled with dressing, freshly baked white bread, and another cup filled with some mysterious white liquid.
Having such a feast for breakfast… It almost brings me to tears.
After losing the war against the otherworld and fleeing to Roa’s sanctuary, I spent weeks barely eating anything.
For me, those weeks feel like they just happened a few days ago. Every bit of food is precious to me now.
“I prepared a simple breakfast, considering the early hour. I know you dislike fish, Your Highness, but a fresh catch came in from the morning market, so I decided to grill it for you. This type of fish has less of a fishy smell. It used to be common, but it has become quite rare lately. Its name is…”
“It’s rockfish, isn’t it? Thanks, I’ll eat well.”
Unable to resist any longer, I picked up the fork and started eating. Rania, surprised, nodded with approval.
“It is a rockfish. The official name is Crown Blackfish, but most people just call it rockfish because of its stone-like skin. But it’s surprising that you recognize it, Your Highness. I wouldn’t think such a common fish would have been served in the palace.”
“Oh, really? Well, I’ve had it a few times. I know what it tastes like.”
I brushed off her surprise while skillfully picking apart the fish and eating it.
Of course, the palace never served such common fish.
“I’m so relieved to see you eating well, Your Highness. It makes me very happy and grateful,” Rania said, her voice trembling with emotion.
Poor aunt. Before I replaced him, Claude had such a picky appetite that Rania must have been constantly worried whenever she brought out meals.
“Don’t worry, I’ll eat well from now on. Not that it’ll make me grow any taller.”
“No, that’s not necessarily true.”
“Huh? What?”
“I believe you’ll grow quite a bit taller, Your Highness. That’s why I’ve prepared this nutrient-rich milk. You’ll surely grow taller if you keep drinking it.”
Yeah… no.
I’ll look like this for the next 10 years. After nine regressions, I can say that with confidence.
Of course, I couldn’t tell Rania that. I smiled faintly and drank the white liquid from the cup.
Ugh, the smell.
It’s much stronger than any milk I remember from Earth, with a potent odor that almost makes my nose curl.
But it’s not undrinkable. It has a rich, unique taste once you get past the smell.
Still, drinking this won’t make me grow. That damn poison Jess gave me stunted my growth during the prime years when my body should have been developing.
The real problem is that Jess’ poison isn’t from this world—it originates from the otherworld. A special kind of toxin.
Because of that, even the divine magic of this world can’t cleanse it.
Despite choosing the Archpriest-level divine magic, I couldn’t start this regression fully healed because the poison resists the magic of this world.
“Now that you’ve finished your meal, Your Highness, it’s time to take your detoxifying elixir.”
Rania held out a round-bottomed glass bottle with both hands, carefully offering it to me.
Without a word, I took the elixir and downed it, letting out a long sigh afterward.
“Ugh… This stuff is awful…”
The taste is atrocious!
It’s like drinking a concoction of burnt mud and tree roots boiled at high heat for hours.
But I have to keep drinking it. The reason this elixir works on Jess’ poison—when even the highest-level divine magic can’t—is because it doesn’t just detoxify the body; it forces the poison out of it entirely.
That’s why every time I take it, I end up with nosebleeds, break out in cold sweats, or sometimes have to rush to the bathroom.
After about a month of this, the poison will be completely expelled from my body.
Only then will I finally be free of the headaches, sudden numbness in my limbs, and the irrational bursts of anger and agitation.
Just as I was about to relax, Rania handed me another elixir bottle.
“Your Highness, once you’ve finished, please take this new elixir as well.”
“What’s this?”
A second elixir? That’s new.
“I’ve developed this elixir after researching the poison you expelled last night. Forgive me for saying this, but…”
Rania hesitated for a moment, looking pained before continuing.
“Your Highness, it’s not just a matter of detoxifying your body. The poison you’ve consumed over the years has caused your growth to stop entirely.”
“Oh… is that… so?”
I feigned disappointment, though I already knew the truth. Rania bit her lip, her expression filled with sorrow.
“This isn’t something that can be fixed by simply ridding your body of the poison. However, I believe this new elixir I’ve developed can restore your growth.”
Wait… what?
Is she serious?
I wasn’t even this shocked when I discovered that Firen, one of the three Knight Masters in the empire, was a traitor to humanity!
What the hell is happening here?
Rania has developed an elixir that can make me grow again? This has never happened in any of my previous nine regressions!
“Is that… possible?”
“It is. I’ve reached a point where I can sense the effects of an elixir just by handling it. It’s a long explanation, but in short, this is a special elixir I made just for you. Please, Your Highness, drink it.”
I know Rania is a top-tier elixir maker, no doubt about that.
But I’ve reached that level too, and I know for a fact that there’s no such thing as an elixir that can make someone grow again after their growth has been stunted.
So how is this possible?
This is only the second day of my regression, and already something this significant is happening.
“But this…”
The first elixir was a deep brown, but this one… It’s pitch black, like boiled coal.
“The color’s intense. What’s it called?”
“It’s a new elixir, one that doesn’t exist in the history of elixir-making. It doesn’t have a name yet, but I was thinking of calling it the ‘Elixir of Growth.’”
A completely new elixir? Really?
Rania wouldn’t lie to me, so that means she’s achieved a breakthrough—one that surpasses anything known before.
This is both intriguing and confusing
. What could have triggered such a drastic change in Rania just two days into this regression?
Could it have been the fact that I eliminated Albert and Fennel on the first day?
No, that doesn’t seem likely. They had no direct connection to Rania. She probably doesn’t even know they’re dead.
Could it have been because I drank the elixir Albert gave me and vomited it out shortly after? But I’ve done that three times before in previous regressions…
Or maybe I said something I hadn’t said before? Perhaps something during dinner… Did I mention anything about height?